Trial of Khmer Rouge leader begins

First trial of a Khmer Rouge leader began in Cambodia. According to news reports the special United Nations as well as Cambodia tribunal will try the former leader.

In a development, that could be construed as revolutionary, as well, the first of its kind trial of a Khmer Rouge leader has began in Cambodia. There are reports that the special United Nations and Cambodia tribunal will try the leader, the ex-prison commander of Khmer Rouge, Mr. Kaing Guek Eav. The commander is also known as Comrade Duch. The commander, a 66 years old man, has reportedly been accused of torturing as well as ordering the final orders of killing 15,000 people in Tuol Sleng prison. The prison, it should be remembered, was main interrogation centre of Khmer Rouge from 1975 to 1979. A reported survivor of the prison, Mr. Bou Meng, stated that he would tell the court that what he went through and witnessed as one of the prisoners of the centre. He shared with the media that the authorities beat him in many different ways, using sticks and whips. He reportedly added further that he was given electric shocks and clarified further that still he bore the scars, even today. The tribunal, as the reports stated, was established in 2006 for trying the leaders of the Khmer Rouge regime. There have been reports in the past, that the regime was responsible for the deaths of nearly two million people.